Microsoft Announces Imagine Cup Finalists 2012

If you have not heard of the Imagine Cup, you should take some interest.

The Imagine Cup is a competition run and delivered by Microsof tto support and engage students from across the globe in developing technology projects that address global issues such as poverty, access to healthcare, and environmental sustainability. The proviso, given the sponsor, being that students develop on Microsoft platforms. This includes a breadth of possibilities given Microsoft’s newest platforms include Windows 8, Windows Phone, Windows Azure, and Kinect.

Last week, Microsoft announced the 106 teams from 75 countries that are advancing to Worldwide Finals in Sydney, Australia, as part of the 10th annual Imagine Cup competition.

For ten years now, the Imagine Cup has fostered the next generation of developers, and today many Imagine Cup alumni are entrepreneurs, inventors, and professional app developers. The impact of these students extends well beyond the competition.

“Over the last decade, students have taken the lead in adopting new technologies and championing social transformation,” said Moorthy Uppaluri, general manager, Microsoft Academic Programs. “Ten years ago, we created Imagine Cup with the idea that students can change the world – and every year they continue to demonstrate their passion and creativity in creating technology that makes the world a better place.”

GeekDad love the ambition and breadth of the Imagine Cup, and the way it supports students to keep thinking and evolving towards careers in technology and science. We will be profiling a few of the teams that have made it to the finals in the led up to July, when all finalists will be competing and presenting in Sydney.

Daniel Donahoo is a researcher and author from Melbourne, Australia who roleplays with his kids, often.